ABSTRACT
This chapter presents an outline for the conducting of initial interviews with potential group psychotherapy patients by psychoanalytically oriented psychotherapists and offers the necessity for accurate assessment of pathology, ego strength development, and motivation. It argues for the importance of making an explicit therapeutic contract with the patient. Psychoanalytic group psychotherapy, like psychoanalysis proper, is a verbal form of treatment and does not willingly promote physical or other regressive forms of discharge. In the interview, treatment goals of a prospective patient are thoroughly explored, whether they are explicit or implicit. The patient is told that psychotherapy might lead to better understanding of just what troubles him and that his procedure might best be carried out in a psychotherapy group. The sensitivity and empathy of the psychotherapist will determine when and how each bit of necessary information is introduced into the preparation.
